Hose or pipe coupling.



G. E. ATKINSON. HOSE 0R PIPE COUPLING.

, APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1909.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

ennnnnsn". n'rxmson, or RICHMOND, INDIANA.

HOSE on PIPE COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7,

Application filed March 8, 1909. Serial No. 481,964.

To all whom it may "concern:

son, a citizen of the United in the city of Richmond, Wayne and State ofIndiana,

prehensive specification, being such as will enable others to make anduse the same with 1 absolute exactitude.

In the operation of coupling hose, pipes,

or the like, much time is usually lost, and in many instances it is ofmost vital importance that these operations should be. performed quicklyand'positively,to accomplish which is the desideratum to which thispresent invention is more particularly directed.

The object of my present invention, broadly stated, is to providemeans-for coupling hose, pipes, or the like, in order to successfullyform an impermeable joint, which will be strong and durable inconstruction, easily operated and controlled,-which can be manufacturedand sold at acomparatively low price, and which-will give a maximum ofefiiciency under all conditions for the-several purposes for which itmay be employed, and in which the item of maintenance will be reduced toan almost negligible minimum.

The specific objects of this invention are, to provide a coupling inwhich the elements may be coupled without turning either of the parts,the operation requiring but one movement to form or break the operativeconnection of the parts; to provide means whereby the coupling may slideeasily over any obstruction and not become engaged therewith; in whichthe wear will be reduced to a minimum; and in which the danger ofleakage will be practically m'l.

Other minor objects. and particular advantages of the invention willsuggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic in the course of thefollowing description.

My present invention is especially appli= cable for use in connectionwith coupling sections of fire-hose, and for connecting hose tohydrants, therefore I have shown it as relating thereto, but I desirethat it be understood that I am not to be limited to such particularuse.

In the accompanying drawings formlng a part of this specification onemanner of ap- 5 plication of my invention is shown, in Be it known thatI, CHARLES E. ATKIN- States, residing in the county of, have invented Ia new and useful Hose or Pipe Coupling, of which the following is afull, clear, and com- 1 Figure 1 is a face view of the female member;Fig. 2 is a face view of the male member; Fig. 3' is a longitudinalcentral section of the two members in operative position with relationto each other; Fig. 4 is a perspective plan of the two membersseparated; Fi 5 is a longitudinal central sectlon showlng the femalemember adapted to be employed in connection with a hydrant or the likeand also showing the cap therefor, which cap is adapted to take theplace of the male member; and Fig. 6 is an inside face view of said cap.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views of theone sheet of drawings.

as may be. found to be necessary for a clear comprehension of theprinciples thereof.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, letter A denotesthe female member and B the male member of my device, each being formedin the nature of a band, and each isprovided with the respective contactfaces a and b which are disposed at an angle with reference to the axialdirection of the device. The faces a and b are adapted to contact witheach other as indi cated in Fig. 3. Formed centrally through the memberA is the aperture (1, and likewise formed through the member B is thecomplementary aperture 6.

Numerals 1 and 2 denote each a portion of a hose or pipe, which are tobe coupled together,each being adapted to be secured to the respectivemembers A and B on the inside thereof, as indicated in Fig. 3, therebeing ways formed around on the inner-f periphery of the outer endportions of said 9 members A and B to receive the ends of? said hose orpipes whereby the apertures in said hose or pipes may be of same size asarethe' apertures in said members A and B, substantially as indicated.The outer surfaces of said members A and B are rounded at their outerend portions, as indicated in Fig. 3, in order that when coupled thehose may be drawn over rough surfaces without danger of the couplingengaging therewith.

Extending outward from opposite sides formin .4 with w llCh they areintegral; thelr-inner of th face a are the twoundercuttapering flang s.A' and A", their outer s1des conto the contour of the member A,

sides projecting under; and their faces. being parallel with the face a.Said inner faces of said flanges are not parallel with each other butthey are arranged convergently with relation to each other as shown.

The index A denotes a cavity sunk into the face 11v and opening into theperiphery of the member A at a point midway between the flanges A and Aat their points farthest apart. Both the depth and the thickness of saidcavit 'A are substantially the same, while the ength thereof iscons1derably greater, being substantlally that as shown in Figs. 1 andi. The ends of said cavity A are undercut or dovetalled' in an axialdirectionas indicated in F g. 4.

' Extending inward from opposlte 816.88 of the face b are the two unercut tapering .grooves B and B; their outer sides con forming to thecontour of niember B, in which they are formed; their inner sldesprojecting under; and their faces belng parallel with the face I). Saldmner faces of said grooves are not parallel with each other but they arearranged convergently with relation to each other and correspond withthe flanges A and A".

The index B denotes a lug projectlng out from the face I), adjoining theperiphery of the member B, located at a point midway between the flangesB and B at their points farthest apart. The dimensions of the lug B aresubstantially the same as that of the cavity A in which it is adapted tofit; and the dimensions of the flanges A and A are substantially thesame as are the grooves B and B" in which they are adapt- I ed to fit,as indicated in Fig. 3.

Formed around in the face (it of the member A is a channel, whichextends around the aperture a, and in which is fitted the gasket C. Saidgasket should be of a thickness such as to cause it normally to extendout slightly above the face a, and it is to be contacted by the face I),as is indicated in From the above it will be manifest that the faces aand b of the two members are, or ma be, detachably interlocked beingdovetailed convergently to ether, and they can be separated only by siding said faces a short dlstance u on each other. .Gravity,

f friction, and resiliency all contribute to retain said faces incontact with each other.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 5 and 6: Theletter H denotes afemale member, which in every essential articular is like the member A,except that 1t may be adapted I for a different purpose, the differencesbeing that the outer portion of the wall of its central aperture h. iscut away, same as member A, but this cutaway portion is interiorlthreaded, said threads bein denoted liy index [2. by which it may %esecured on a hydrant or the like in place of the usual cap therefor.

The member H has a face h which is disposed at an angle with referenceto the axial direction of the member H. Extending outward from op ositesides of the face it are two undercut anges, only one of which appearsin Fi 5 where it is denoted by index H, said f fanges being identicalwith the flanges A and A which have been described, therefore furtherdescription and showing would be prolix.

The index H denotes a cavity sunk into the face a and it,is, identicalwith the cavity A above described.

Formed around in the face h of the member H is agroove which opens intothe aperture h, and in which is fitted the gasket I, which is identicalwith the gasket C above referred to, and its function is the same.

The letter K denotes a cap or plate, having a face is which is adaptedto contact with the face I) (or the face a). Extending inward fromopposite sides of the face lo are the two undercut tapering grooves Kand K" which are identical wlth the groovesB' and B of the member B.

The index I denotes a lug formed integral with the cap K and which risesabove the face 7:, same being identical with the lug B, and it isadapted to fit in the cavity H.

The member H is adapted to be screwed on to the threaded flange whichusually pro- H when not in use, and to close the aperture it, is thefunction of the cap K which may be brought to the position shown, thenraised to allow the flanges of the member H to engage the grooves K andK", after which the cap is lowered wedgelike to position, and its upperend may be tap ed in order to ti hten it to the desired su ciency.

ach section of the hose, as for instance sections 1 and 2, is providedat one end with a member A and at the other end with a member B. Shouldit now be desired to connect up the hose to the hydrant then one hasonly to remove the cap K, by moving it upward. The next operation willbe to connect the hose to the hydrant which is done by selecting the endof the hose which carries a member B and connecting such member .B tothe member H in same manner I being connected as that shown in Fig. 3.

. WWW

It of course being understood that a nozzle (not shown) may be providedwhich has at its butt a member B, whereby it may be connected to thelast section of hose.

From the above it is manifest that a line of hose may be laid andconnected to a hydrant very quickly, dispensing entirely with threadedconnections, and at the same time providing a strong and more positiveconnection, which is both easily com.ected and disconnected.

While I have shown and described the best manner now known to me for theaccomplishment of my invention in a practical manner, I desire that itbe understood that I am not to be limited to the specific detailsthereof, but hold that I am entitled to such changes therein as wouldsuggest themselves to an ordinary mechanic.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is-

1. A hose or pipe coupling formed round in cross-section and-having itsends rounded in an axial direction, consisting of a malemember and afemale-member rovided with parallel contact faces dispose at an acuteangle with relation to the axial direction of the coupling, the twofaces being dovetailed convergently together, a dovetail-lug projectinfromthe face of the male-member and a joining the periphery thereofat'the wider end of its face and fitting in an oppositely disposedsocket formed in the face of the female member, said dovetailed=lug andsaid socket forming means for contributing in retaining said faces incontact with each other and also preventing said faces from beingcontacted tighter than they should.

2. A hose or pipe coupling formed round in cross section and comprisingtwo members having oppositely disposed faces which are disposed at anacute angle to the common axis, means for removably connecting sa1dfaces, said means comprislng a pair of undercut and convergentlyarranged flanges formed integral with one of said faces and a pair ofundercut convergently arranged rooves formed in the face 0 the othermemlier and adapted to snugly receive sa1d flanges therein wedge-like todraw the two faces tightl into contact with each other, a dovetailed lug projectin from the faceof one of said members an adapted to fit in anundercut cavity formed in the face of the other member, said last namedcavity and lug being oppositely directed to that of the first namedcoves and flanges, and a washer seatef in one of said faces and adaptedto contact with the other face when the two members are contacted.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to thisspecification 1n the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. ATKINSON.

Witnesses:

ROBERT W. RANDLE, R. E. HANDLE.

